Curated OER
The French in Texas
Fourth graders examine early French exploration and settlement in Texas. They read handouts, explore Internet websites and take notes, and create an illustrated journal with written entries.
Curated OER
Powerful Potato
Students are introduced to the growth process of a potato. As a class, they place a potato on a plate and observe how long it takes for the eyes to appear. In groups, they follow a recipe to make potato soup that is shared with the...
Curated OER
A Capital Idea
Students write a description of the spatial organization of the former and present location of New Hampshire's state capital. They analyze maps, participate in a class discussion, and calculate the distance of Concord from the borders...
Curated OER
The Search for the Northwest Passage
Third graders listen to lectures and research the motivations and history of the Spanish, French and English explorers searching for the Northwest Passage to India. They trace routes on maps and consider how these explorers helped shaped...
Curated OER
Leif Erikson Day
Leif Erikson Day lessons breathe life into social studies classroom explorations.
Curated OER
Matthew Henson
Discuss the work of Matthew Henson, an African American who traveled to the North Pole with Robert Peary. After reading the story "Matthew Henson" by Maryann N. Weidt, learners answer questions by drawing inferences and conclusions,...
Curated OER
Settlement Exploration: Then and Now
NASA has crafted an imaginative and memorable series of lessons, "NASA and Jamestown Education Module." This lesson is one of the five components. In it, middle schoolers connect history and science by comparing the settlement of...
K12 Reader
Conflict Over North American Lands
Readers are introduced to some of the conflicts that arose over land and resources in the Americas in a two-part cross-curricular comprehension worksheet that asks kids to study the article and then to use information provided to...
Curated OER
Jackie Steals Home
Students read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan to...
Curated OER
Utah: State History
In this Utah state history activity, students read two and a half pages of information about Utah and complete 10 true and false questions.
Curated OER
Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Curated OER
Vermont History True / False
In this Vermont history instructional activity, students read two and a half pages of information about Vermont history. After reading, students complete 10 true or false questions about what they read.
Curated OER
Fastest Glacier
Young scholars compare and contrast continental ice sheets and a glacier. They discuss how glaciers form. Students research the average winter and summer temperatures for their area. They predict what might happen to the Greenland...
Curated OER
Nebraska: Using Pictures
Students create a scrapbook about Nebraska history focusing on Post Office murals. They choose their favorite murals and write a story to go along with the mural. In groups, students present their murals to the class and visit the...
Curated OER
Overcoming Problems: John Smith
In this John Smith instructional activity, students read a one page article about the problems John Smith faced in the 1600's. Students complete 7 short answer questions about the article.
Curated OER
Native American Music: Call-and-Response
Students are introduced to call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. They identify and describe a call-and-response form as used in "0 Hal'Lwe."
Male students will perform "0 Hal'Lwe" in call-and-response style with drum...
Curated OER
Discovery of America
Students examine the European conquest of North America. They participate in activities which allow them to discover the indigenous peoples of the region. They also place events in chrongological order.
Curated OER
Buried in Ice: The Mystery of a Lost Arctic Expedition
Students read a novel about a lost arctic expedition by Sir John Franklin. In groups, they discuss the author's quest to determine what happened to Franklin and his crew. Using the internet, they compare and contrast the expeditions by...
PBS
Pbs: Empire of the Bay: Paths of the Explorers
Follow Hudson, Champlain and McKenzie as they explore Canada and what will ultimately become the land of the Hudson's Bay Company.
British Library
British Library:northwest Passage: Early Approaches, a Historical Account
Read about the early attempts to find a way through the Northwest Passage. Included are portraits and early maps of the explorers.
Curated OER
Etc: Early Explorers of the Atlantic Coast, 1492 1620
A map of the Atlantic coast of North America from the Labrador Peninsula and Gulf of St. Lawrence south to the Santee River in the Carolinas, showing the European explorations and settlements in the region between 1492 and 1620. The map...
Discovering Lewis & Clark
Discovering Lewis & Clark: David Thompson, Lewis, Clark, Jefferson
This web site is a group effort devoted to Lewis and Clark, the explorers. This section of the site describes David Thompson's role in their expeditions.
Curated OER
Etc: Dev of Colonies and Early Western Explorations, 1700 1775
A map of eastern North America showing the early development of the European colonies and westward exploration to the Mississippi River. The map shows the routes of several early explorers with dates of exploration, including La Salle,...
University of Calgary
European Voyages of Exploration: Geography and Cartography
This site provides information on mapmaking and cartograohy of the early explorers. Includes pictures of maps.